Jive Party at the lavish Rivoli Ballroom in Brockley Pic: Jive Party
There is so much fun to be had this week along the line. Shine up your dancing shoes and get down to Deptford for the Tea Party at the Albany and the fantastic Jive Party at Brockley’s Rivoli. Taste the flavours of the world in Victoria Park at the weekend, and don’t miss the exciting garden party planned at the Horniman Museum on Thursday.
Open-mic storytelling at Spark London
Monday, May 13, 7.30pm
Hackney Picturehouse, 270 Mare Street, E8 1HE
Londoners take to the stage at this regular event to tell true stories about their lives. The theme of tonight is Mixed Messages - think stolen glances across a room and emails gone awry. If you want to tell a story, you can email the organisers at sparklondon@gmail.com. Tickets are £3 in advance, or can be bought on the door.
Selina Hastings on Evelyn Waugh
Wednesday, May 15, 7pm
Last Tuesday Society, 11 Mare St, Hackney, E8 4RP
This latest in LTS's fascinating lecture series sees Waugh's biographer talk about his life. Hastings was approached by Waugh's son to write the "monumental" book, which took her eight years and, she says, nearly defeated her: “I have never before or since found a subject more intriguing, complex, difficult, funny and ultimately rewarding than Evelyn Waugh.”
Attendees will be able to buy the biography at a 25% discount. Tickets are £7 and can be bought from the Last Tuesday Society website.
Celebrate Adult Learners' Week in two of Hackney's historic buildings
Sunday, May 19 - Thursday, May 23
St Augustine's Tower, behind 354 Mare Street, E8 1HR
The Round Chapel, 1d Glenarm Road, E5 0LY
Hackney Historic Buildings Trust has put together a program of talks about the history of the borough in two spectacular venues, St Augustine's Tower and The Round Chapel Auditorium.
Among the speakers are Iain Sinclair, who will look at some of the consequences of imposing "grand-project parks and computer-generated palaces of vanities on East London," and historian Jerry White, who will talk about London and Hackney in the First World War.
Iain Sinclair's talk in the Round Chapel can hold 500. They ask for a £2 donation. All the other events are free, but booking is essential as places are limited. More info here.
Email info@hhbt.org.uk or call 020 8986 0029 to reserve a place.
New Writing Nights at Genesis Cinema
Thursday, May 16, 7pm
93 - 95 Mile End Road, E1 4UJ
This week the Genesis Cinema is hosting an evening of new writing at the Paragon Bar. The event will showcase three up-coming plays - The Case by David Payne, Everybody In The House by Jack Leonard and Nick Hayes, and Begins At Home by Tom Glover. They are all directed by Sarah Marr. The bar will also be serving food and drinks. The event is free, but a table can be reserved by calling the box office on 020 7780 2000.
London Police at the Stolen Space Gallery
Friday, May 10 - Sunday, May 26
Stolen Space, Dray Walk Gallery, 91 Brick Lane, E1 6QL
It's All Fun & Games Until Someone Gets Hurt is the first solo art show by The London Police in England since 2009. This time around the Amsterdam-based artists have themed their show around sports and games. Although they have mistimed their sterling effort of jumping on the Olympic bandwagon, the Essex-born duo have produced a slick show of considered artworks and designer sport products. For more info call 0207 770 6100 or visit the website here.
Saturday, May 18, 1pm -3pm
The Hub Building, Area D5, Victoria Park
The festival Food 4 All will be hosted in Victoria Park this weekend. It offers a chance for the local community to celebrate cultural cohesion by joining the Community Park Rangers in tasting different dishes from around the world.
For more info see Tower Hamlets Council website here.
A 21st Century Tea Dance
Tuesday, May 14, 2pm
The Albany, Douglas Way, SE8 4AG.
The Albany’s famous Tea Dance returns with live music, dancing and performance curated by older artists. Regular, much-loved host Ida Barr will be recuperating from minor surgery (slipped disc at the disco), but Ida’s manager has negotiated for another act to step into the breach. Major US celebrity and nine-time Grammy Award-winning country music singer Tina C will be the new celebrity host. Tickets are £5, but carers and under-5s go free, but require a ticket. Call the box office on 020 8692 4446 to book.
Museums at Night — the Horniman Garden Party
Thursday 16 May, 6pm – 9pm
Horniman Museum, 100 London Road, Forest Hill, SE23 3PQ
This Thursday, the Horniman Museum in Forest Hill is hosting an evening of events themed around gardens. The main attraction is a light installation in the museum's Victorian conservatory by rAndom International, the company behind the popular Rain Room at the Barbican. There will also be a dance performance, readings of poetry inspired by London gardens and a Garden of Living Cinema, featuring shorts and animations. You can learn to make gin tinctures, syrups and cocktails in the Gin Garden and the museum is conducting "alternative" tours, delving into the hidden stories behind the Horniman collections. Tickets are £3 and can be booked in advance.
Saturday, 18 May, 8pm–1am
The Rivoli Ballroom 350 Brockley Road, Brockley SE4 2BY
Jive Party hosts monthly dance events with live swing and jive music at London’s famous Rivoli Ballroom. Big, gutsy, powerful and energetic blues-shouting frontman Jackson Sloan of OoBopSh’Bam! returns to the ballroom in a different guise leading his own band. As usual, the night kicks off with a jive class aimed at beginners followed by two sets from the band and DJs filling in. Booking recommended. Entry £15.
Thursday, May 16 - Saturday, May 18, 7.30pm
Fairfields Halls, Park Lane, CR9 1DG
UK Touring Theatre sets up a contemporary version of Miss Julie - a controversial cross-class love drama by 19th-century Swedish dramatist August Strindberg that was previously banned in the UK. While the servants’ party continues in the barn outside, aristocratic Miss Julie is drawn to the kitchen and to the socially ambitious Jean, her father’s valet. What starts as a harmless flirtation soon descends into a ferocious power struggle and battle of the sexes from which neither can escape.
Croydon Music Festival Concerto Competition
Sunday, May 19, 2.30pm & 6.30pm
Concert Hall, Whitgift School, Haling Park, CR2 6YT
This weekend, enjoy the finals of the concerto competition, one of the many concerts in the varied programme of music, drama and dance events. The evening of the concerto competition will see performances from the concerto finalists as well as a presentation of awards. This concert series is a showcase of some of the very talented performers from across the whole community festival. Admission free.
